Braided structure with electrically conductive tows

Abstract

Electrically conductive braided structures having resistivity are disclosed. In an embodiment a structure comprises a plurality of nonconductive bias tows formed of fibers of a nonconductive material and at least one conductive tow formed of fibers including at least one conductive material. The plurality of nonconductive bias tows and the at least one conductive tow are arranged to form a braided structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structure, comprising:
 a plurality of nonconductive bias tows formed of fibers of a nonconductive material; and   at least one conductive tow formed of fibers including at least one conductive material,   the plurality of nonconductive bias tows and the at least one conductive tow are arranged to form a braided structure.   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , the at least one conductive tow includes at least one bias tow. 
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 2 , the at least one conductive tow includes at least one axial tow. 
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1 , the at least one conductive tow includes at least one axial tow. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , the at least one conductive tow includes two or more conductive tows defining two or more separate conductive paths. 
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 5 , the two or more separate conductive paths are shielded from one another at least in part using a nonconductive portion of a braided structure. 
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 1 , the at least one conductive tow is a stretch-broken conductive tow. 
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 1 , at least a portion of the structure has a helical configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 1 , the structure is twisted such that the at least one conductive tow has a length longer than the linear length of the structure. 
     
     
         10 . A structure, comprising:
 a braided sleeve comprising at least a plurality of bias tows, the bias tows are formed of a non-conductive material; and   at least one axial tow, the at least one axial tow is formed of a conductive material,   the braided sleeve encloses the at least one axial tow.   
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 10 , the braided sleeve has a non-circular cross section. 
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 11 , the non-circular cross section of the braided sleeve is formed using a hot melt process. 
     
     
         13 . A structure, comprising:
 a non-conductive core formed of at least a plurality of nonconductive bias tows formed of fibers of a nonconductive material; and   at least one conductive tow helically wound around the non-conductive core according to a helical pattern including at least one lead angle.   
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 13 , further comprising and adhesive in contact with at least a portion of the at least one conductive tow to maintain the helical pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 13 , at least a portion of the at least one conductive tow is heat treated to maintain the helical pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 13 , the at least one conductive tow is stretch-broken. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising
 providing a plurality of non-conductive tows;   providing at least one conductive tow;   braiding the non-conductive tows and at least one conductive tow to form a unit cell pattern, the non-conductive tows comprise at least bias tows;   repeatedly braiding the unit cell pattern to produce a braided structure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 forming the braided structure to a non-circular cross-sectional shape; and   heating the braided structure to perform a hot melt process on the non-circular cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising pulling the at least one conductive tow using rollers at a rate faster than the at least one conductive tow is being fed to complete a stretch-breaking process on the at least one conductive tow. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising twisting the braided structure. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , the braiding of at least the non-conductive tows occurs around a conductive core. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 arranging the at least one conductive tow in accordance with a lead angle; and   adhering at least the at least one conductive tow to fix the at least one conductive tow into the lead angle.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising impregnating at least one tow with an adherent before braiding. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising applying a protective cover to at least one of the at least one conductive tow and the plurality of non-conductive tows.